In Episode 95 of The TBD Podcast, Garrett talks with Nolan Gray, the research director at California YIMBY and the author of Arbitrary Lines. Nolan explains the roots of zoning in the U.S., how it affects housing and cities today, and what steps can improve these challenges. They cover topics like the influence of cars on urban planning, why housing has become so expensive, and how better rules can make cities more livable for everyone. This conversation gives you a clear understanding of how zoning impacts your life and what can change for the better.
0:00:00 - Nolan Gray introduction
0:01:31 - Why cities fascinated Nolan
0:02:13 - Housing affordability challenges
0:03:12 - YIMBY movement origins
0:05:10 - Suburban vs. urban development
0:05:47 - Inspiration for Arbitrary Lines
0:07:42 - Federal involvement in housing
0:08:56 - Suburbanization of America explained
0:09:35 - Evolution of zoning rules
0:11:18 - Effects of land-use segregation
0:13:39 - Cars’ role in zoning history
0:19:00 - Local entrepreneurship restrictions
0:21:39 - Race and zoning after WWI
0:27:30 - Housing affordability affecting middle-class
0:29:56 - Suburbs, cars, and urban form
0:32:40 - Managing parking for better cities
0:37:56 - Observing cities to plan better
0:43:20 - Preserving walkability in cities
0:47:11 - Rural vs. urban voting challenges
0:51:10 - Future of housing and demographics
